Help with Aerospace programs

[pablofc1989]

I am an international student and I intend to apply for several Aerospace programs by late November. I know there are a lot of topics asking the chances of admission, but I would really appreciate if you could help me with my situation.

My goal: Top-10 program in Aerospace Engineering

Research Interests: Computational Engineering, Aerodynamics, Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics.

My stats:

Undergrad Degree: Mechanical Engineering (6-year degree from a mid-ranked Spanish University). Now I am at San Diego State University pursuing my Undergrad Thesis for 1 year.

GPA: 8.64/10 (different system)

Class position: 1st out of 100+

TOEFL: Not taken yet, but 95+ expected

GRE: Not taken yet. High quantitative score (165+), but very low analytical and verbal scores expected.

Letters of Recommendation:

- Undergrad Professor and Chair of the Fluid Mechanics Department (very strong)

- CEO of the company I did an internship this summer (very strong)

- Hopefully my undergrad thesis advisor at San Diego State University (Berkeley PhD)

Research experience:

- 4 months at my undergrad's intitution Heat Engines Lab (working with Genetic Algorithms)

- 3 months at a R&D company (in the Computational Modeling Group)

- 9 months at SDSU Solar Energy and Combustion Lab (working on numerical modeling)

Programs I intend to apply:

MIT - AeroAstro (ACE program)

Caltech - Space Engineering

Stanford - AeroAstro

Princeton - Aerospace

GaTech - Aerospace

UCSD - Aerospace

Imperial College of London - Aeronautics

MIT - Mechanical

Berkeley - Mechanical

MIT - CDO

The problem: I have neither research experience nor a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and my GRE scores (verbal and analytical) will be very low.

Do you think that not having any experience in Aerospace Engineering is definitely a handicap when applying for these schools? Do I have a shot at being admitted in any of the previous Aerospace Engineering programs? If not, I guess I have to change my mind and apply mostly for ME programs in spite of my preferences.

Thank you so much!

[HappyEngineer]

Aerospace program takes ME students,too. Go ahead and apply. You have decent credentials.

[pablofc1989]

Aerospace program takes ME students,too. Go ahead and apply. You have decent credentials.

Thanks for the response! Finally I am applying for the M.S. at University of Michigan instead of Princeton, since I feel it is a more realistic option (higher acceptance rate and higher ranking in Aerospace Engineering).

I have already gotten in contact with some of the professors whose research fits with my interests, and I have received good feedback from some of them; so, so far so good!

[HappyEngineer]

Thanks for the response! Finally I am applying for the M.S. at University of Michigan instead of Princeton, since I feel it is a more realistic option (higher acceptance rate and higher ranking in Aerospace Engineering).

I have already gotten in contact with some of the professors whose research fits with my interests, and I have received good feedback from some of them; so, so far so good!

That's fantastic!Are you applying aerospace or mechanical?

[pablofc1989]

That's fantastic!Are you applying aerospace or mechanical?

Thanks! Mainly Aerospace, though I am applying ME at Berkeley and MIT too.

Finally I think I won't apply for the M.S. in Computation for Design and Optimization since I am not taking the IELTS (there is no availability) and they do not recognise the TOEFL scores.

[HappyEngineer]

That's good. I am happy for you! When are you planning on taking GRE and TOEFL?

[pablofc1989]

That's good. I am happy for you! When are you planning on taking GRE and TOEFL?

Sorry I didn't see your question!

I've recently taken both exams. My unofficial GRE scores are V152(53%) and Q165(92%), and I feel I didn't my best in the TOEFL (most likely in the 90-100 range). I am concerned about the 165 on the quantitative section of the GRE. I really expected to de better than that, though I also expected a much lower verbal score!

I am finally applying to:

Caltech - Space Engineering

Stanford - AeroAstro

GaTech - Aerospace

University of Michigan - Aerospace

Imperial College of London - Aeronautics

MIT - Mechanical

Berkeley - Mechanical

I feel I only have a shot at Michigan, Georgia Tech and Imperial College London; but anyway I think it is worth applying at MIT, Caltech, Stanford and Berkeley just in case.

Let's see what happens!

[Gregg30]

Don't overlook Purdue's program. They have a good program as well. Check out their websites: https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr and https://purdueonlineengineering.com/

[pablofc1989]

Don't overlook Purdue's program. They have a good program as well. Check out their websites: https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr and https://purdueonlineengineering.com/

Hi Gregg! Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Depending on my TOEFL scores I will consider some extra application for the January deadlines. Do you have some information about financial aid and admission rate at Purdue for M.S. programs? Thanks!

[pablofc1989]

After taking all the exams my complete application is the following. I feel my GRE Q and AW is ruining my chances at MIT, Caltech Stanford and Berkeley.

Stats:

Undergrad Degree: Mechanical Engineering (6-year degree from a mid-ranked Spanish University).

GPA: 8.64/10 (different system)

Class position: 1st out of 100+

TOEFL: 102 (L26, R26, S23, W27)

GRE: Q165, V152, AW3.0

Letters of Recommendation:

- Professor, Head of the Heat Engines Lab (see Research Experence) and Chair of the Fluid Mechanics Department - Very strong.

- Professor, Chair of the Condensed Matter Physics Department at University of Valladolid and CEO and Co-Founder of Cidaut Foundation for Transport and Energy Research and Development (see Research Experience) - Very strong.

- Professor and Director of the School of Industrial Engineerings - Very strong.

- My undergrad thesis advisor at San Diego State University (Berkeley PhD) - Unkown strength

- Professor of Numerical Methods for PDE (due to my interest in a computational approach) - Very strong.

Research Experience:

- 4 months at my undergrad's intitution Heat Engines Lab (working with Genetic Algorithms applied to combustion studies).

- 3 months at a R&D company (in the Computational Modeling Group).

- 9 months at SDSU Solar Energy and Combustion Lab (working on fluid dynamics and radiative heat transfer numerical modeling).

Programs I am applying (ordered by preference):

MIT - Aeronautics & Astronautics (ACE program)

MIT - Mechanical Engineering

Caltech - Space Engineering

Stanford - Mechanical Engineering

University of California at Berkeley - Mechanical Engineering

GaTech - Aerospace Engineering

University of Michigan - Aerospace Engineering

Imperial College of London - Aeronautics

Finger crossed!

[arkansawesome]

Which professor are you trying to work with at Michigan?